Tunnel cord trim retainer

Abstract

A tunnel cord assembly for removably attaching a trim cover to a contoured, cellular foam pad is comprised of a selvedge strip slidably encasing the cord and a bayonet-type fixture at the ends of the cord. The selvedge strip is sewn to the trim cover, which attaches to the foam pad. The foam pad includes a front surface, an opposite back surface, a plurality of trenches and a plurality of holes within the trenches. Each end of the tunnel cord is pulled through a hole that extends through the foam pad from the front surface, which is covered by the trim cover, to the back surface. A locking device is then removably coupled between the back surface of the foam and the bayonet-type fixture, preventing the cord from retracting through the hole back to the front surface of the pad, and thereby securing the trim cover to the foam pad.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A cushion assembly for an automobile including: 
       a contoured, cellular foam pad having a front surface and an opposite back surface, with a plurality of holes extending therebetween;  
       a trim cover for covering said front surface of said foam pad;  
       at least one tunnel cord extending longitudinally between opposite first and second ends, a portion of said tunnel cord passes through a pair of said holes in said foam pad wherein a portion of said cord is secured to said trim cover arid each of said first and second ends is anchored to said back surface of said foam pad to secure said trim cover against said front surface;  
       said trim cover includes an elongated selvedge strip fixedly secured thereto for slidably encasing and securing at least a portion of said tunnel cord to said trim cover; and  
       said cord is longitudinally secured to said trim cover by said elongated selvedge strip whereby each of said first and second ends extends substantially perpendicularly away from said trim cover through said holes in said foam pad to provide a taught and substantially wrinkle-free attachment of said trim cover to said front surface of said foam pad.  
     
     
       2. An assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further including a locking device removably coupled between each of said first and second ends of said cord and said back surface for anchoring said ends of said tunnel cord to said back surface of said foam pad. 
     
     
       3. An assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said end of said tunnel cord further includes a bayonet-type fitting to prevent said tunnel cord from retracting through said hole from said back surface to said front surface of said foam pad. 
     
     
       4. An assembly as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said tunnel cord is substantially non-elastic to firmly retain said trim cover against said front surface of said foam pad. 
     
     
       5. An assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said trim cover includes a distal circumferential edge and at least one substantially J-shaped hook attached to a portion of said edge adopted for securing said trim cover and said foam pad to a frame at a seat assembly. 
     
     
       6. An assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said foam pad further includes at least one trench to recess said selvedge strip and said tunnel cord below said front surface of said foam pad. 
     
     
       7. An assembly as set forth in  claim 6  wherein each of said holes is positioned within the width and length of said trench. 
     
     
       8. A method of attaching a trim cover to a foam pad having a front surface and opposite back surface with holes extending therethrough, wherein the trim cover includes a tunnel cord assembly comprising an elongated selvedge strip slidably encasing a tunnel cord having first and second ends, said method comprising the steps of: 
       positioning the trim cover adjacent to the front surface of the foam pad;  
       securing the tunnel cord to the trim cover in a longitudinal direction such that each of the first and second ends of the tunnel cord extends substantially perpendicularly away from the trim cover;  
       aligning each of the first and second ends of the tunnel cord with the corresponding holes in the foam pad;  
       pulling each of the first and second ends of the tunnel cord through the holes in the foam pad from the front surface to the back surface of the foam pad, thereby providing a taught and substantially wrinkle-free attachment of the trim cover to the front surface of the foam pad; and anchoring the first end and the second end of the tunnel cord to the back surface of the foam pad to secure the trim cover to the foam pad.  
     
     
       9. A method as set forth in  claim 8  further including anchoring each end of the tunnel cord to the back surface of the foam pad by coupling a locking device between the end of the cord and the back surface of the foam pad.